Olympians this year brought back New Zealand’s record medal tally. Ten of them were wāhine Māori who won gold medals and will be celebrated in the awards ceremony.
Whakaata Māori will livestream a two-and-a-half-hour special Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa | Māori Sports Awards 2024 on MĀORI+ on Saturday, November 30 at 6pm, with a repeat on Sunday, December 1 at 6.30pm.
This is the 34th year the Trillian Trust Māori Sports Awards will be hosted by Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust at Mercury Baypark Arena, in Mount Maunganui this weekend.
In 1991 the former Māori All Black, Albie Pryor (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Rangitihi) established the black-tie event to promote and encourage Māori to pursue sporting excellence
Trust executive director Richard Garratt MNZM (Ngāi Tuhoe) said the achievements at the Olympics were a far cry from the first event in 1991 when there was only one world champion.
“The success of these athletes will inspire a new generation of Māori sportspeople to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence on the world stage,” Garratt said.
“The powerful use of te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and Māori performing arts had an unprecedented impact both at home and throughout the world.”
The trustees of Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa will present a special award to the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Te Whare o Pou Tangata.
The committee has worked hard to provide an environment that incorporates tikanga Māori and additions like kākahu for the flag bearers and the gifting of pounamu on arrival at the athletes’ village.
Māori athletes made up 19.7 per cent of the total New Zealand team – 38 athletes.
The Olympics this year had a number of firsts:
- An official Māori language glossary;
- The attendance of the first royal representatives of te ao Māori, the late Māori King, Kiingi Tuheitia and his whānau; and
- The involvement of haka group Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti, which captured global attention with its performances.
The first New Zealander to play American football professionally in the US and the first to win a Super Bowl, Riki Ellison (Ngāi Tahu), will also be inducted into the Māori Sports Hall of Fame
Standout performances included Aotearoa’s most successful Olympian, canoeist Dame Lisa Carrington, who won three gold medals, and cyclist Ellesse Andrews who became a double Olympic champion.
Māori Olympians and Paralympians at Paris 2024 as well as the Māori Sports Awards’ category finalists, scholarship recipients and hall of fame inductee are:
TE ARATIATIA | Māori sports umpire/referee of the Year
Amber Church (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki), Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | Gisborne – haupoi | hockey
Ben O’Keeffe (Ngāpuhi), Kaipara – whutupōro | rugby
Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (Ngāruahine), Taranaki – poiwhana | football
MĀUI TIKITIKI-Ā-TARANGA | Māori sports administrator of the year
Aroha Tito (Ngāpuhi), Kerikeri – hahau pōro | golf
Dame Farah Palmer DNZM (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Tainui), Te Papaioea | Palmerston North – whutupōro | rugby
Gordon Glen-Watson (Ngāpuhi), Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland – poiwhana | football
TE MARU Ō TŪMATAUENGA | Māori sports coach of the year
Clayton McMillan (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāi Tamawhariua), Kirikiriroa | Hamilton – whutupōro | rugby
Cory Sweeney (Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara), Pāpāmoa – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Michael Mayne (Ngāti Awa), Kirikiriroa | Hamilton – poiwhana | football
NGĀ IKA Ā WHIRO | Māori sports team of the year
New Zealand Māori Development team – whutupōro | rugby
TE TOI HUAREWA | Māori para athlete of the year
Holly Robinson MNZM PLY#183 (Ngāi Tahu), Ōtepoti | Dunedin – Kaiaka whaikaha | Para athletics
Peter Cowan PLY#231 (Ngāti Kahungunu), Heretaunga | Hastings – Eke waka whaikaha | Para canoeing
TE KUNENGA KI PŪREHUROA | Massey University scholarship
Erika Fairweather OLY#1424 (Kāi Tahu), Ōtepoti | Dunedin – kauhoe | swimming
Tyla King OLY#1323 (Ngāpuhi), Mauao | Mount Maunganui – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens, rīki | rugby league
TOITŪ KAUPAPA MĀORI MĀTAURANGA | Māori Education Trust scholarship
Maia Davis (Ngāti Hineuru, Taranaki), Ahuriri | Napier – whutupōro | rugby, whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens, rīki | rugby league
SKILLS ACTIVE AOTEAROA | Māori Sports Awards scholarship
Charlie Sinton (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), Tauranga – whutupōro | rugby
TE PIKINGA O TĀWHAKI | Individual Māori world champions (6)
Catherine Mullooly (Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Kahungunu), Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | Gisborne – kutikuti | shearing
Dale Johnson (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Porou, Tainui), Tauranga – waka ama | outrigger canoeing
George Thomas (Ngāti Pikiao), Rotorua – waka ama | outrigger canoeing
Hinekahukura Brooking (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | Gisborne – waka ama | outrigger canoeing
Peata Nuku (Ngati Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine), Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland – waka ama | outrigger canoeing
Sacha Bond (Ngāi Tūhoe), Ahitereiria | Australia – kutikuti | shearing
TE POU HERENGA TAHI | Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Trustees Award
Te Whare o Pou Tangata | New Zealand Olympic Committee
TOA MĀTĀMUA TAUMĀHEKEHEKE MĀORI O TE AO | Māori Olympic gold medallists 2024 (10)
Ellesse Andrews OLY#1389 (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe), Kemureti | Cambridge – paihikara (ara āmio) | cycling (track)
Dame Lisa Carrington DNZM OLY#1131 (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou), North Harbour – waka hūkere | canoe sprint
Mahina Paul OLY#1596 (Ngāti Pūkeko), Mauao | Mount Maunganui – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Manaia Nuku OLY#1593 (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui), Tauranga – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Olivia Brett OLY#1539 (Ngāpuhi), Campbells Bay – waka hūkere | canoe sprint
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe OLY#1369 (Ngāpuhi), Hapani | Japan – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Risaleaana Pouri-Lane OLY#1477 (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kōata) – Mauao | Mount Maunganui – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Sarah Hirini MNZM OLY#1276 (Ngāti Kahungunu), Mauao | Mount Maunganui – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Stacey Waaka OLY#1426 (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa), Mauao | Mount Maunganui – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Tyla King OLY#1323 (Ngāpuhi), Mauao | Mount Maunganui – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
TAUMĀHEKEHEKE MĀORI O TE AO | Māori Olympians 2024 (38)
Andrew Knewstubb OLY#1448 (Ngāpuhi) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Brady Rush OLY#1609 (Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa, Ngāti Whātua) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Dylan Collier OLY#1410 (Whakatōhea) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Ellesse Andrews OLY#1389 (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) – paihikara | cycling (track)
Erika Fairweather OLY#1424 (Kāi Tahu) – kauhoe | swimming
Fin Ngahina Roa Conchie OLY@1548 (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, Waikato) – poihana | football
Grace Jale OLY#1575 (Ngāti Raukawa) – poihana | football
Isaac Houlbrooke OLY#1573 (Ngāi Tahu) – haupoi | hockey
Jackie Gowler OLY#1431 (Rangitāne) – hoe waka | rowing
Joe Webber OLY#1361 (Ngāti Ranginui) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Jordan Parry OLY#1473 (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) – hoe waka | rowing
Kane Follows OLY#1558 (Ngāti Whakaue) – kauhoe | swimming
Kane Russell OLY#1343 (Ngāpuhi) – haupoi | hockey
Keegan Hornblow OLY#1572 (Ngāi Te Rangi) – paihikara (ara āmio) | cycling (track)
Kerri Williams OLY#1278 (Rangitāne) – hoe waka | rowing
Kurtis Imrie OLY#1439 (Ngāpuhi) – waka hūkere | canoe sprint
Laticia Transom OLY#1625 (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Raukawa) – kauhoe | swimming
Lewis Clareburt OLY#1408 (Waikato, Tainui) – kauhoe | swimming
Dame Lisa Carrington DNZM OLY#1131 (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou) – waka hūkere | canoe sprint
Logan Ullrich OLY#1626 (Ngāi Tahu) – hoe waka | rowing
Lucy Matehaere OLY#1583 (Ngāpuhi) – waka hūkere | canoe sprint
Lukas Kelly-Heald OLY#1576 (Ngāi Tahu) – poihana | football
Mahina Paul OLY#1596 (Ngāti Pūkeko) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Manaia Nuku OLY#1593 (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black OLY#1459 (Ngāi Tūhoe) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Olivia Brett OLY#1539 (Ngāpuhi) – waka hūkere | canoe sprint
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe OLY#1369 (Ngāpuhi) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Regan Ware OLY#1360 (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Waikato) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Risaleaana Pouri-Lane OLY#1477 (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kōata) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Samuel Gaze OLY#1274 (Te Atiawa) – paihikara (maunga/huanui) | cycling (mountain/road)
Samuel Tanner OLY#1504 (Ngāpuhi) – kaiaka | athletics
Sarah Hirini MNZM OLY#1276 (Ngāti Kahungunu) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Stacey Waaka OLY#1426 (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Taiko Torepe-Ormsby OLY#1624 (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Maniapoto) – kauhoe | swimming
Tayla Ford OLY#1559 (Tainui, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Porou) – mamau (tāwhai) | wrestling (freestyle)
Tepaea Cook-Savage OLY#1549 (Ngāi Takoto, Ngāpuhi) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Tyla King OLY#1323 (Ngāpuhi) – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens
Zoe Hobbs OLY#1571 (Ngāruahine) – kaiaka | athletics
TAUMĀHEKEHEKE WHAIKAHA MĀORI O TE AO | Māori Paralympians 2024 (4)
Cameron Leslie MNZM PLY#164 (Ngāpuhi) – Kauhoe whaikaha | Para swimming
Holly Robinson MNZM OLY#183 (Ngāi Tahu) – Kaiaka whaikaha | Para athletics
Joshua Willmer PLY#238 (Tainui) – Kauhoe whaikaha | Para swimming
Peter Cowan PLY#231 (Ngāti Kahungunu) – Eke waka whaikaha | Para canoeing
TE TAMĀHINE-Ā-PAPATŪĀNUKU | Junior Māori Sportswoman of the Year
Hinekahukura Brooking (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Tūranganui-a-Kiwa | Gisborne – waka ama | outrigger canoeing
Maia Davis (Ngāti Hineuru, Taranaki), Ahuriri | Napier – whutupōro | rugby, whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens, rīki | rugby league
Ruby Nathan (Te Aupōuri), Ahitereiria | Australia – poiwhana | football
TE TAMA-Ā-RANGINUI | Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year
Charlie Sinton (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), Tauranga – whutupōro | rugby
Francis David Lockwood (Ngāi Tahu), Rotorua – hahau pōro | golf
Rico Simpson (Ngāti Awa), Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland – whutupōro | rugby
TE WHARE MĀTĀTAPUNA O TE AO MĀORI | Māori Sports Hall of Fame
Riki Ellison (Ngāi Tahu), Ngā Whenua Tōpū o Amerika | USA – whutupōro Amerika | American football
HINEAHUONE | Senior Māori Sportswoman of the Year
Ellesse Andrews OLY#1389 (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe), Kemureti | Cambridge – paihikara (ara āmio) | cycling (track)
Erika Fairweather OLY#1424 (Kāi Tahu), Ōtepoti | Dunedin – kauhoe | swimming
Kelly Jackson nee Jury (Ngāti Kahungunu), Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington – poitarawhiti | netball
Dame Lisa Carrington DNZM OLY#1131 (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou), North Harbour – waka hūkere | canoe sprint
Olivia Brett OLY#1539 (Ngāpuhi), Campbells Bay – waka hūkere | canoe sprint
Stacey Waaka OLY#1426 (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa), Mauao | Mount Maunganui – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens, rīki | rugby league
Tyla King OLY#1323 (Ngāpuhi), Mauao | Mount Maunganui – whutupōro takiwhitu | rugby sevens, rīki | rugby league
TE TAMA-Ā-TANENUIĀRANGI | Senior Māori Sportsman of the Year
Codie Taylor (Muaūpoko, Ngāti Raukawa), Ōtautahi | Christchurch – whutupōro | rugby
James Fisher-Harris (Ngāpuhi), Ahitereiria | Australia – rīki | rugby league
Lewis Clareburt OLY#1408 (Waikato, Tainui), Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland – kauhoe | swimming
Logan Ullrich OLY#1626 (Ngāi Tahu), Kemureti | Cambridge – hoe waka | rowing
RONGOMARAEROA | Albie Pryor Memorial Māori Sports Person of the Year
All Olympians, Paralympians, world champions and category finalists are in contention for the supreme award.
